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Saturday, 16 April 2016

William and Kate 'Make New Memories' as the Royal Tour Ends at the Taj Mahal

The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge concluded their tour of India and Bhutan with one of the most anticipated and discussed events of the tour - a visit to India's iconic landmark, the Taj Mahal.

The Palace described it as a "fitting location for the Duke and Duchess to say thank you for the generosity and warmth that has been extended to Their Royal Highnesses throughout the tour. The Taj Mahal is one of the symbols of India".

Of course, there's another symbolic and deeply personal side to the visit for Prince William. In 1992, Prince Charles and the late Princess Diana toured India and iconic images of Diana posing alone at the Taj Mahal would become enduring images of the collapse of their marriage. When asked how she found the visit, Diana said at the time "very healing", when asked to elaborate she replied: "Work it out for yourself." Twelve years earlier Prince Charles visited the monument and promised to return some day with his bride. Months after their joint visit the couple officially separated.

The question on everyone's mind today: would the Cambridges sit on the same marble bench in front of the Taj Mahal as Diana?

The media were told the couple did not make their mind up until they arrived, but then decided to sit on the 'Diana bench' and thus created iconic shots. The couple posed for photos.

A beautiful photo.

Kensington Palace continued: "The Duke of Cambridge is of course aware of the huge esteem his mother, the late Princess of Wales, is held in India and he appreciates the iconic status of the images that exist of the Princess at the Taj. He feels incredibly lucky to visit a place where his mother’s memory is kept alive by so many who travel there, 24 years on from her visit to the Taj."

It was undoubtedly a special opportunity for William to retrace his mother's footsteps and as the Palace said "make new memories" with his wife by his side.

After posing for photos, William and Kate privately toured the building.

The Duchess was fascinated by the romantic story behind the building. More from the Mail Online:

'Tour guide Rizwan Mohammed, 35, said he wished them a happy 5th wedding anniversary for the 29th April, adding : 'They were shocked that I know about it, but you know the internet. But then she said this is the perfect thing to do before their wedding anniversary. She was quite happy about it.'

Asked if it was a 'romantic day for them', he said 'absolutely'. They were fascinated 'by the story of the king and the queen' and the love that made him build the monument to her. And Kate got 'quite emotional' when she came to know that the Queen died at the very young age of 39. 'She said 'she really deserves this kind of building as they were madly in love with each other.'

Mr Mohammed added: 'They were down to earth, very casual. They were so, so easy to talk with them. For me, I was quite nervous but they were very normal, down to earth. Specifically the duchess, she was very enthusiastic about how this was built, She was asking about the inscriptions and what they mean.They were quite fascinated how it was done four centuries back, especially the lady. She was quite fascinated about the skills of those people and did they do it without using any modern tools and techniques.'

The Duke and Duchess signed the visitors book.

As they came out William was asked: 'What has today's visit meant to you?' to which he replied 'It's a beautiful place, stunning designs in there. Kate added: 'It's been really incredible to learn about the romance of the building and really beautiful architecture'.

It was a scorching hot day in the Agra. A look at the media covering the visit.

This photo offers a good sense of the scope of the media presence. William and Kate travelled to the Taj Mahal in an environmentally-friendly, non-polluting, battery-operated vehicle.

The history of the landmark, known as the 'monument of love' is a fascinating one. The Taj Mahal is an ivory-white marble mausoleum on the south bank of the Yamuna river in the Indian city of Agra. It was commissioned in 1632 by the Mughal emperor, Shah Jahan to house the tomb of his favorite wife, Mumtaz Mahal. The tomb is the centrepiece of a 42-acre complex, which includes a mosque and a guest house, and is set in formal gardens bounded on three sides by a crenellated walls.

The Taj Mahal was designated as a UNESCO World Heritage Site in 1983 for being "the jewel of Muslim art in India and one of the universally admired masterpieces of the world's heritage". Described by Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore as "the tear-drop on the cheek of time", it is regarded by many as the best example of Mughal architecture and a symbol of India's rich history. The Taj Mahal attracts seven to eight million visitors a year.

The interior design is incredibly intricate and detailed.

The Cambridges have received an enormously warm reception at every stop along the way. Agra was no exception...

Kensington Palace "TRH want to say thank you to the people of India for their hospitality and warmth. The tour has been a huge success in deepening the UK relationship with the people of India. Kate chose a dress by Indian-American designer Naeem Khan for the event.

The blue and white sheath dress is from the designer's Resort 2015 Collection and features beautiful embroidery. Kate's wearing the style shown below with minor alterations. You'll notice Kate's dress has been lengthened.

More from The Telegraph on the designer's reaction to learning Kate wore his dress:

“This is my happiest morning. My son got married last night and The Duchess of Cambridge wears Naeem Khan in India. I am in Heaven.” He said he had provided Kate’s team with three possibilities when they contacted him several months ago but wasn’t told for sure The Duchess would wear his designs.'

Naeem Khan was one of the talented designer we look at in our 'Tour Designer Possibilities' posts. Born in Mumbai, the designer's hugely successful label was launched in 2003. Based in New York, his clients include First Lady Michelle Obama, Queen Noor of Jordan and Beyoncé. Known for delicate hand-beading, rich embroideries and gorgeous vibrant colour, I was very much hoping Kate would choose one of his designs.

Kate wore the pretty blue £6 earrings she purchased during her hike to Tiger's Nest yesterday. I thought it a lovely combination - a dress by a Mumbai-born designer with earrings from Bhutan.

William and Kate will enjoy dinner at a local hotel before flying back to the UK. I'm sure they cannot wait to see George and Charlotte. As the tour draws to a close, it feels the perfect time to say an enormous and heartfelt thank you to everyone who visited the blog and commented throughout the tour. It's been such fun covering the events and seeing your reactions. I thoroughly enjoyed the tour, the events, the quotes, Kate's style, seeing the locations, the culture and views from both countries - it was amazing!

I would also like to mention the press pack who so generously shared photos, videos, information and so much more over the last week. Those on the ground shared invaluable insight. Firstly, the amazing James Whatling who provided the majority of the images (despite being under the weather), pool and press association photographers. Richard Palmer, Simon Perry, Emily Andrews, Victoria Murphy, Rebecca English, Camilla Tominey, Roya Nikkhah, Arthur Edwards, Gordon Rayner, Peter Hunt, Valentine Low, Omid Mio Scobie, Simon Vigar and Bhutan Broadcasting.

As some of you have already guessed we'll be holding our tour polls and more next. In the meantime, catch up on all the tour coverage on our Royal Tour Spring 2016 page! :)

370 comments:

Wow, she's stunning! So pretty! And I spotted the earrings already on the video. Great that she is wearing them! And what promotion for those brands!! This dress is absolutley splendid! Such great pattern. The colours! What a perfect choice! :D I am so in love with this dress, I could ramble on forever. It's so "very Kate" in the look while still feeling Indian but not dressed up in costume. It hit all the right notes for me! Wow! And what a day to make the perfect dress choice!

I am in a way glad that they did the picture. I like that they are not shying away from the comparisons, because there are so many that they wouldn't be able to do anything if they would avoid it all. I think it's better to get it over and done with. William looked a little tense at times, which is not odd at all. Must have been a bit hard knowing how big of a deal this would be made into.

Also, nice that they once again accknowledged and talked to the press :)

Wonderfully put Rebecca, both regarding Catherine's Beautiful Fresh Dress & the Great Now to be Iconic Photos of The Couple Sitting on The Bench. It's as if to say, for all the suffering that Diana lived through....here is her son, who learned all that she had taught him & his wife/partner who is as devoted & loving of William as Diana could have ever hoped for. The reset button has been pushed & all the painful lessons of the past were taken to heart & are a part of the positive & mindful choices made today.

Thank you so much for all of this week. You made it feel like it was christmas morning every day. Your posts have been very speedy and accurate and you have made my week bliss. Perfect ending to the tour that they both sat on that bench! Can't wait for your next post, you are fantastic.

What a fitting end to what has been a fantastic and jam packed tour. I definitely did not know I'll enjoy it as much as I did. Know its onto the 90th birthday festivities. Hope she debuts new clothes also.

It is a surprise for me too:-)) Because I really like blue/white and it suits Kate perfectly. Probably, I have seen a lot of pattern during this tour. But it was nice of you to think about me and remind me of my dream dress, thank you very much!!:-))

OMG. I choked up when I saw the image of them sitting on the bench. This was the most touching and powerful "reset" moment I could have imagined.

What Diana did not have in her lifetime, William has in spades. And I am very pleased with the statement released by KP. Once again, it showed William's respect and love for his mother and that he is happy people remember her. Diana isn't just smiling today, she is beaming.

This truly, truly made my day!

On a far less significant note, the dress is perfect. Appropriate and beautiful in every way.

I agree. "Reset moment" is a good way to describe it. It was lovely to see the two of them walking around and then posing together, interacting with each other (this on the heels of their affectionate time hiking yesterday--it's not a show, but truly genuine). I agree too that William has an abundance of so much of what lacked in Diana's life and Kate is the biggest part of that on so many levels.

I too, really like the dress and found it appropriate both in design (echoing the scroll work and floral designs of the Taj) and in color. Like the new linen jacket William wore too. He also gets points for wearing gray slacks this tour! =) Btw, I wonder if his avoidance of gray suits stems from the fact that his dad wears it a LOT. LOL. You know how children don't want to dress like their parents. Haha.

I think Harry would do well with a down to earth woman like Kate--one who perhaps has some military background and athletic;not one of those polo-circuit, aristocratic types society butterfly types...but a real earthy woman who can relate to his passion of the military and injured soldiers. Here's to praying for that happiness for him!

OMG, royalfan how funny, I just posted a reply under Rebecca's response & I used the word "reset" too before I saw your post.:) I think not only do "great minds think alike" but I think it is a word that says it all. I love and agree with all that you said. I was struggling how to put my thoughts into words, but you said it all just right!:) I choked up too..... it's as if in that moment, we saw the manifestation of all of Diana's work to raise William to be ready for his Destiny & to make good choices for all the right reasons in his life, enabling him to find love in a True Partner. Yes, I believe he has everything that she wanted for him in his life with Catherine:) God Bless Them Both:)

Denise, I do agree about the interaction between them. It speaks volumes. Some folks may be disappointed that they didn't kiss, but never in a million years did I expect that today. This was a public moment during a royal tour, and not a "look at US!" moment à la Kim and Kanye.

The dress *is* very Kate and I hope to see it again soon. Also, the earrings are a true blue vs. the turquoise from yesterday's photograph. Considering Kate's penchant for blue, I'm not surprised that she bought them. :)

Also agree with you on the type of young lady Harry needs. And just imagine how some of the "types" you describe will feel if yet another prince gets away! LOL.

Now this dress I like and it's appropriate to choose an Indian designer. The embroidery is so beautifully placed across the dress. I do like that Kate is a bit adventurous in her clothing choices (even when I don't like them) and has been more so on this tour. It would be so dull if she fell into the royal uniform trap (e.g. very conservative skirt suit all the time).

Thanks for all your hard work covering this tour for us Charlotte, even across the time difference!

I am unexpectedly emotional on seeing these photos. I have been to the Taj Mahal twice and both times was struck by its beauty and sentiment. Think about how long it took to build such a structure, without today's tools and technologies. Even the minarets are on an angle so that if something terrible was to occur (natural disaster or otherwise) they would fall away from the eternal resting place of the emperor's great love. I remember being told that the emperor was locked in a prison at agra fort (if you've ever been there, you'll know it is a pretty impressive prison) but even from there he had a view of his monument to love. I am too young to know the connection to Diana other than through media stories, but reflecting on those stories, the history of the Taj and now seeing a couple in love attempting to overcome the media scrutiny that tries links their relationship to one that didn't last...well, as I said in the beginning, it has made me a little emotional.

Fashion wise, I love the dress. I love the pattern and colour and it reminds me of the details on the Taj Mahal. I'm glad that another Indian designer was chosen for the last day at the iconic spot. I know a few people who are surprised by the fashion coming out of India - all they know of Indian fashion are the traditional garments. This outfit brings together to old world and the new, with the personal touch of the earrings bought in Bhutan. I believe life and love are in the little details. Sometimes it feels like Kate feels the same way.

Anticipating a "Choose your favorite look of the Tour" contest" (hope I am reading Charlottes mind here), I had begun to casually mull over what my choice would be. Then this fabulous dress popped up and I think this has jumped to the top of my list. Another example, like the Tory Burch, of what an A-LIST designer can do. This dress is perfection. The color stands out beautifully against the background. Might I add that William looks looks the best ever here also. Together, they present a royal couple that are a down-to-earth loving couple who are carving out their own definition of how royalty, marriage and family can co-exist, so unlike their predecessors. So very sad that Diana Is not here to see this.

I was thinking back on what she has worn during this tour and realized that she did surprise us with her choices. With the exception of Julie's Beulah, this morning's white McQueen and this dress by Khan, many of our predictions were way of base which I think is great. I hope she has some more really wonderful surprises up her sleeve in the not too near future.

I do feel a little pang for all those beautiful choices and all those designers though - there's only one solution! William and Kate will just have to go back in the not too distant future. There is so much more of India they could visit. It's someplace I've always wanted to visit and probably never will, so I've truly enjoyed living it through William and Kate!

I've loved Kate's wardrobe for this tour but I think this is my absolute favourite, followed by the Tory Burch evening dress. The embroidery is fantastic and it works so well in this setting. Love the earrings from Bhutan...and I have to admit I've just pre-ordered the earrings she wore with the Tory Burch. Well done, Kate.

Words can't express how excited I was! Kate looks gorgeous! And that picture of them on that bench is frame worthy! :) I feel a little sad now that the tour has ended there will be a little Kate withdrawals. But nevertheless, perfect end to a wonderful tour! No doubt, Kate and William would be happy to return to George and Charlotte! What makes this more exciting for me is that I have visited the Taj myself quite a few times, and I HAVE PHOTOS OF ME ON THAT BENCH TOO! :) :) Excuse that excitement, though I think it's justified :) Thank you Charlotte for being the best! :) :)

perfect dress, the blue embroidery on a slim dress against the white background is perfect for the setting. As I mentioned in an earlier post, I've been blessed to have been to the Taj more times than I can count- ( and it was actually my first date with my husband!) so it's a special place in my heart. Just pleased to see Catherine's dress selection from an Indian designer, too- ( although there were many many more she could have accessed , too, but didn't...) As I had also read, I knew one of the minarets had scaffolding on it( and of course it just had to be one on this side- so no hiding it) , so the shot isn't nearly as perfect as it could have been-, but a tighter in shot w/o the minarets would have been fairly possible too from that seat ( there's actually at least two benches along that walk there that you can utilise to get a closer or longer shot...) Lovely, lovely- and now we go back to Catherine's UK sartorial choices for the Queen's birthday next week. Hope we arent going to have to have a quick death here with something entirely dull- but no matter- I'm sure it will be "safe". One fun tour over and done...Thanks to Charlotte for all her amazing research and coverage- and her sleepless nights , bringing us all lovely coverage of the visit.

Noted my comments sound a bit out of now is all as when I first saw this, Charlotte still had a picture up there with the minaret covered in scaffolding, which I see has been removed. great! :) Much better pictures now! :) thank, Charlotte! ;)

You've got to be kidding me. The freaking Taj Mahal was your guys's first date?!?! Wow, that's one that's rather hard to top! :P

Also, 3 of 4 minarets had scaffolding. And while I don't like to over analyze, I think it makes the pictures even better. A monument for love, a symbol of a country, being restored so it can work in the future. Remind you of anything?

This. This is perfection. This dress is very Kate and is just perfect. More like what we saw on the fabulous Canadian tour with nods to the host country. This is what I was hoping to see the whole week! One of my favorites on her ever!

It was absolutely refreshing to see duchess Kate coming out of her comfort zone, wearing all printed dresses and respecting the Indian and Bhutan culture. In all appearances she looked very relaxed and happy. From Jenny Packhman to Naeem Khan all the dresses were elegant and classy.

It was also nice to see them supporting various causes and engaging with homeless children and feeding the Rhinos and elephants.Compared to previous tours this was the BEST. From dresses shoes, earrings and hair styles she was elegant. What I love the the most was her expressions, when William tried holding a bow and arrow. Job well done William and Kate. I'm sure they must be looking forward to seeing the kids

Thank you Charlotte for keeping us updated and especially with time difference it isn't easy.Thank God!!!there is no difference between the Sri Lankan and Indian time zone.U did a fantastic job !!! Now you can rest and enjoy your weekend.

THEY DID IT!! AND she wore a sheath!!! I am beyond happy! Charlotte, you have been a wonder, not only posting quickly and choosing those beautiful photos but also writing such informative text! This dress was the perfect choice and finally William's blue jacket matches (heehee). Now you can have well-deserved rest and, again, all I can say is thank you!

Im so sad it is all over! Of course I thought how emotional this day must be for William. But I also thought about some of those in the press that covered Diana like Arthur Edwards who has been photographing the royal family for almost 40 years and was one of Diana's favorite members of the press. It was a fitting end to a great tour!Hopefully they participate in some of the events for the queen's 90th birthday but I am not going to get my hopes up!Anyway I am glad she ended her tour fashion with an Indian designer! It was a nice dress!

Appearantly, a source close to the couple (yeah, I know, I know but it was right after the visit and such and rather reliable) said: “For the Duke of Cambridge, his mother’s visit to the Taj Mahal is not a particularly strong memory at all. He has many other memories of his mother that are much more important to him. The visit was about creating new memories for their family.” (According to Victoria Murphy)

So while this picture means alot to royal followers, that certain pictures probably doesn't mean anything special to him. By that time he would had known for ages that those two were not a "team" anymore. But I agree that for someone like Arthur, it might be rather emotional!

I think that was a reliable source Rebecca, most likely one of their close staff (Jason, Miguel, Rebecca) and I think it's probably accurate.

And I agree that I think this moment was more significant to older royal correspondents and watchers than William himself. After all, he was just 9 when his mother was at the Taj Mahal, it was February 1992, a few months before his 10th birthday.

So I think while he's aware that the Diana photo is a famous image, and he's aware that this was going to create a media/public buzz, it's not a personal memory to him, if that makes sense. And you're right, he saw many more moments of despair and sadness from his mother in his own home unfortunately.

I think he was smart to face it head-on, to let the photos be taken and to sit down on the bench. (Although personally I preferred Whatling's standing photo!) Avoiding it would have been a bigger story, as if they were afraid of her ghost.

Diana's trip to the Taj Mahal was part of her story, and part of how she wanted to tell her story.

Here's William doing his own thing and showing the world his story, living his own life. He is now the husband and father, not the son caught in the middle. I think he handled it well.

Sarah & Marny I love your thoughts & words & agree with them immensely. I too love the relationship William has with Arthur:) I think it's quite unique & possibly the only one of the Press with whom William feels a positive connection. I remember Kate too being quoted by Arthur as saying quite cute things to him during their First Tour to Canada. I almost see them as viewing him like an Uncle figure or sorts. It would almost be nice if William could tap into that relationship with Arthur to brainstorm on ways to cultivate a new detente of sorts with the press moving forward? it'a out there, but it is an idea?

I also think that William's memories are different from the rest of us - he was so young and there are so many other private photos and things we don't know about, and photos that might have been taken, that never happened, as is so true with divorce and loss. It's very complicated too as he must see if from both parents' perspective.

But it is a wonderful exorcising of one particular public ghost and I know Diana is beaming somewhere about it and so happy that William found the contentment she never had, even from such a young age, and so desperately wanted.

(confess to being a great believer in the afterlife as I can't bear not thinking of seeing my loved ones and beloved pets again. It's not going to be a proper heaven if a welcome committee of dogs isn't there to greet me.)

Precisly Claudia and Julia. His memory of "knowing the parents were oveer" would not have been her on a bench in a picture. It would have been something like Charles storming out and Diana locking herself in the bathroom crying.

And I agree this was smart. He did it, it's done, and now it doesn't have as much power anymore. Same with the tiara. Some people think they are "trying to be Diana" but I rather think they are removing demons from these objects so they can just be objects once more.

Hi charlotte I am new to your blog and I must say your coverage of the tour has been brilliant. Thank you for your efforts. I think Kate looks beautiful as always but she should have worn some blue sandals and some bracelets I think. A brighter shade of lipstick would of been lovely as well but I know she is dedicated to nude lips!! I would die to know her beauty regime and have a nosey in her makeup bag. Thanks again it's been brilliant and so much fun following the tour. I expect we won't see her for a while after this but a well earned rest is what she deserves.

I agree about bracelets. Indian style bangles would have dressed some of her outfits up nicely and added a further nod to the host culture without looking too "costumey".I could also have wished for some stroppy sandals with this dress but hey ho. It;s a lovely dress and really suits her. Love the earrings too.

As a huge lover of bracelets, I do wish Kate would wear more of them. Agree on sexy sandals too but they aren't really her style by day. And on my wish list, would have been one appearance of real gems (the queen mum's earrings for instant with no dodgy connections.) India is responsible for so much magnificent jewellery, that I would have seen it as a tribute to that.

Julia, while I would never say no to any jewels, I think they did the right choice in avoiding it actually. Just a can of worms not worth to open at this point. There were already some stories on how William and Kate should apologize (!?) for colonialism...

Bravo Kate and William for a job well done this week! Hope you can unwind a bit on the way home to the kids! Kate looked magnificent in this dress- his aesthetic works well on the duchess. I love that she is wearing her monastery earrings- maybe she had a very spiritual experience on the mountain. She has done a great job dressing diplomatically and these last few days have been wonderful for the scenery and a change of scene. Maybe they found the Taj Mahal very healing too. For William, it may have been bittersweet, but I am sure the stunning beauty of the place and the history will be able to fill his mind instead. Their press relations seemed much improved as well. Great job to the entire staff at KP! Hope everyone can have a couple of days off....

Just beautiful. I don't know about anyone else, but when I saw the picture of Diana on the bench than the picture of William and Kate, it was just breathtaking. I'm sure that Diana is looking down smiling. I just hope that no one(media) will turn these pictures ugly (daily mail). Also I love the sheath dresses, but being 5'3 even a sheath dress looks like a maxi on me. Even skinny jeans look long on me.( sorry for the ramble)

The ankle pants do fit in length, but the ones I have bought are large around the middle for some reason. And the next size down is too small. Can't understand why full length petite pants are no longer petite! They used to fit me perfectly.

Absolutely stunning! And pairs so nicely with her earrings - which looked a little more royal blue than the ones the journalist showed. I'm sure she bought them yesterday with today's outfit in mind. So sad this tour has come to an end. It really reignited my love for the Cambridges. Their affection and love for each other was so clear on this trip, and I think they genuinely enjoyed themselves. Can we have another royal tour soon, please?!

Even better, maybe a tour at home. Not such a novel thought to go around the country, as the queen has done in important years. Maybe year for William's thirty-fifth birthday or something like that - how wonderful it would be to see them go from town to town with exciting new clothes, really making a connection with the people who will someday be their subjects.

Just heard on a sour note that Jamaica may be removing the queen as their head of state, if so, what nasty timing, just before her ninetieth year of giving so much, including to them. You think they could have waited until she was gone, but that's life.

absolutely beautiful, both of them.but I would've loved to see them holding hands or arm-in-arm -> they are at one of the most romantic places on earth and they are clearly still smitten!! :)thank you for wonderful coverage, Charlotte

They did a lot of that yesterday. I think it would have been a little to much here with all those cameras and people watching. A little to much of a contrast with the Diana photos. I think the subtle touching of their knees and the way Kate was leaning into Williams upper are with hers spoke a lot.

According to the Telegraph today, when asked if April 29, their five year anniversary, will be romantic for them, William said, "Absolutely". Smart answer, William. :)

They said the temperature there today was 106 F. They kept watering down the bench to keep it cool and placed a white towel there for them to sit on.

I personally am not a fan of the type of designs on Kate's dress, but I think, as a diplomatic move for an Iconic photo she made a very good choice in the dress she chose. She showed off her figure beautifully. The white made her look more tan. And the contrast between the navy and white was crisp and fresh. The earrings were diplomatic and for that type of earring (not my favorite at all) she made a nice choice in the few minutes that she probably had to make that decision. She looks stunningly, stunningly beautiful.

wow. William didn't wear his blue suit. He had on nice pants. His outfit coordinated with Kate's.That's the ninth wonder of the world. :)

Happy they chose to make this a part of their anniversary celebration. That makes the creating new memories there even richer. Not only were they there as a couple. They were there as a loving couple. And they were celebrating their anniversary. Diana would be so relieved.

Thankful they and their whole entourage made it home safely. HalleluYah.

Beautiful pictures and I love love love Kate's dress. It is crisp and a style that suits her magnificently. I just wish William was a bit more relaxed and would take her hand or put his hand on her knee or even give her a kiss! Sometimes a prince needs a nudge!

This Naeem Khan dress is perfection and probably one of my all time favourites on the Duchess. It also looks better with the added length. Interestingly, William sat very much like his mother--albeit with strongly positive body language and a bit of man-spread--in almost the same spot. However, that spot was shared by Catherine whose body language was turned to him while she looked at the camera. Delightful. Of course, it will never replace the iconic "Diana shot" but it is another level of healing. Something we can all work out for ourselves.

Thank you Charlotte for this wonderful blog site. Looking through all the pictures and posts was fun and good way to escape the stresses of daily life. Could the dress from Naeem Khan and Williams, jacket been any more perfect together for an occasion showing unity of this couple. How symbolic. What a week in pictures, and how perfect the choices were. Mindful, there is a team of people, assisting the Duchess in the choices and the execution; how effortless she makes it look. Stunning women and yet every picture captures her essence, elegant, warm and friendly. Well done to them all.

Wow, I can't believe the tour is over. What a great time this week has been. It certainly met & exceeded my expectations. I am really inspired now to travel to India and Bhutan.

This was a great final visit and I'm glad that W&K will get some downtime before the flight back to London.

The were a stunning couple together today. Their outfits finally complimented each other. I love Kate's dress but probably love William's outfit even more. He looked great. But his posture on the bench, ugh. Sit up straight man! But I love their body language with Kate turned into him. All the photos from the visit are stunning.

Charlotte your skills were really put to the test this week! Your phenomenal and I'm so glad you have provided us this special place to share. I really liked the addition of the clock at the top to keep track of the different time zones. I hope you will consider keeping it now that the tour is over.

Absolutely stunning- the scenary, the fashion and the Duke and Duchess! Such a special and important day in their lives to visit and reflect on. I'm so very proud of Will and Kate. I'm the same age as Kate and have a young family too, and feel so happy and optimistic for the the future of the monarchy with these two as future King and Queen. My heart is singing!!

A perfect ending to the tour. And shrewd choice for her to wear something very different from Diana. This visit to the Taj Mahal cemented a photo op unique to William and Catherine. Not just a "copy" of Diana. I like that there are photos of them walking around and looking at other things there, too. It makes it more human and not so "iconic"! I don't like that word! I like that William and Catherine are more real. Sadly, too, it reflects the vast difference of the loving relationship William and Catherine have from the distant, unhappy one of Charles and Diana. But I'm glad all that is in the past, and we have happier times now. This dress is beautiful, fits her perfectly and looks wonderful with the whole setting -- like she is fitting in, not trying to stand out or make a spectacle. Also love that she wore her recently purchased earrings -- a spur of the moment decision! Not scripted! Good for her. Thank you so much, Charlotte for this great coverage of a wonderful, colorful tour!! Jane xo

I'm going to fold two comments into one–first about last night's red gown/appearance which I think has been among her best look, not only in this tour which has consisted of one magnificent outfit after another but overall in the course of the years since she became HRH. Last night she looked splendid–her face, her hair was glorious, etc. After that walk and there she was, looking amazing. As for today's Taj Mahal visit, it is indeed very special. I loved seeing them together (but yesterday's hike yielded great "coupledom" pics). William looked terrific today at the Taj Mahal. The Duchess looked fantastic, and I liked the blue/white color scheme of the dress but felt the design at the upper half was very heavy and distracting–a bit like a clunky "chest shield" that "gets in the way." Loved the bench pics, good for them (and us). If I were them, I'd frame one of today's pics at the bench and put it next to a pic of Diana at the Taj Mahal–a way of keeping her company as it were. Again, I felt it was William who stole the sartorial show today.Silvia

Perfect and beautiful. I got emotional and had a few tears after seeing William and Kate sitting on the bench. A day to remember his mother and to be thankful for Kate. Thankful for her love and support, but also how she has helped him heal from the past. A day of healing and also of celebration. Celebration of a fantastic tour and of their love. What a great way to start celebrations of their 5th anniversary. I can't help but think that Diana is smiling down so proud of William and so thankful he has Kate by his side for life.

William and Kate look so sharp together! I LOVE Kate's dress! This is one of my favorite looks of the tour and one I hope she will repeat in the future. The dress is striking and so classy. I also love that Kate wore her earrings she purchased at Tiger's Nest. I agree with Charlotte that it was a lovely combination with the dress and earrings. A perfect end to a perfect week, especially in Kate's fashion choices!

Charlotte, your work is perfection! You have done a BRILLIANT job this week providing us with great information and details. Thank you SO very much for all your hard work. I hope you can rest now and celebrate a job well done! :)

I admire the symbolism of their pose on that iconic bench. William sits squarely on his mother's spot, and Kate turns into him. Yet they are careful not to add any obvious romantic touching--as if to say, This is the moment to give the world a picture of the family in love, but we won't be sentimentally sticky about it. They are very much their public selves here. We saw a tiny glimpse into their private selves yesterday and I'm sure they consider that that was plenty.

I love the look. Both are dressed beautifully, and that they coordinate visually adds to all the symbolism of the day. For me this is perfection.

Thank you yet again, Charlotte, for your stellar work. Go get some rest!!

From Canada: I love this dress!!! It is so nice to see Kate wear colours and patterns throughout the tour. I wish she would continue this trend back in the UK. It was wonderful to see her and William taking that iconic photo in front of the Taj Mahal. Thank you, Charlotte, for your coverage of this tour - you are amazing!

It is a beautiful dress and looks wonderful in the setting. Quick question. To add the length how was that done? Do you think they contacted the designer and asked if he had extra fabric from several years ago that they could use to lengthen or do you think she bought two dresses and used the fabric from the extra dress? William looked great also. ali

It was only from a 2015 collection. I should imagine the dress was made for her. It's happened before - think about the red McQueen for the jubilee barge trip - a more demure version of a dress seen before on a couple of celebrities.

The blue and white coordinates very well with the engagement ring, “it is a way of bringing my mother into the fun”/Diana’s engagement ring to Kate/William’s quote something to that effect at the engagement.

My immediate reaction looking at the dress was how the bottom design complemented the dome shapes of Taj Mahal. The design on the chest has some resemblence to the one she wore for QEII’s birthday. The size of the circle on the chest might have worked out for a broad chested woman. Here on a very slim Kate, it is too magnified instead of blending with the rest of the design motif. May be the size of the inner circle works. It is a beautiful dress, Indian designer’s piece saved for the best. It is done very thoughtfully, and she wore it very well.

Well William hopefully will find the experience as fortunate enough to revisit history, cherish his mother’s memory, and rekindle contentment in the company of the woman he loves.

It seems Naeem Kahn incorporated Indian flag into this dress. The third inner circle of Kate’s dress has 24 spokes too. So by the time the outer three circles of design were included, it had taken a life of its own.

India's Flag symbol Interpretation: At the center of the white band, is a wheel with 24 spokes in navy blue colour that indicates the Dharma Chakra (the wheel of law).

I didn't like the design, no offense. I like no symbolism I guess, particularly when it is most likely obscure to the average buyer. It was like the black and white she wore. I didn't like that either.

I agree with everyone who thinks this is the perfect dress for photos at this landmark. The blue architectural pattern against the crisp white is perfection against the backdrop of the structure. Also, a slim pencil skirt is my favorite silhouette on the DoC. Although I have enjoyed all the clothing on this tour, this is the first dress I could picture myself wearing. I'll have to find a repliKate.

Charlotte, I don't know how you did it but you did it well! I'm sorry to see the tour end but my family will be happy. Seems dinner was rather late several times and I ruined my daughter's reputation because she had to rewear a shirt this week at school because I was behind in the laundry due to excessive blogging :-) Ha!

First of all, many thanks to Charlotte for her hard work. Hope you get a nice long sleep this weekend.Loved this dress. Navy and white always look so good together. The earrings were a nice touch.I don't know how we could judge which was the best; each was so right for the specific engagement.There were so many photos, but there was one which I thought was the most beautiful---the one of Catherine in the blue gown, listening to William's speech---she looked so regal.

What a perfect end to a stellar tour! I did not expect them to sit on the Diana bench and was so emotional when I saw that they did it. I reckon it was a healing experience for William, and a way to confidently say that the demons that haunted his parents' marriage are cast away for good. I also imagine that they did it because they knew the press terribly wanted it, and that people are hoping to see it.

Bravo to William and Kate on this tour. It has been impeccable. They were both very generous to their hosts, the people they meet and the media which followed their every step. As a Brit, I am proud of them.

So grateful for all your hard work Charlotte, much deserved rest for you now, I hope? I share the sentiment this tour has been a brilliant experience for us all - and I do so hope TRHs and the press as well. As to this NK dress - perfection.

Splendidly beautiful! Once again, she just changed out her dress (same shoes, hair and clutch as always), but I loved that she wore her new earrings. The blue and white of her dress looked stunning against the muted whites of the building and the greenery of the landscaping. Just lovely.

Amazing! This is the perfect ending to a tour that I enjoyed immensely. Love that she picked up some Bhutanese earrings that worked nicely with the dress. I wish I had guessed Naeem Khan - very fitting designer. Smart that she added length to the dress. I felt that the dress really suited. And Will's jacket and trousers looks great with her ensemble.

I've enjoyed sharing my thoughts on this blog and would like to compliment you Charlotte on being so detailed and timely. Excellent job!

Being someone that watched Diana - and I believe she will always be held in such high regard - and now watching Will and Kate, you get the feeling that they are capturing hearts as well. It's different. They are a couple to watch. Now I can get back to focusing on my job. :-)

Dear Charlotte, thank you so much for an amazing coverage of the royal tour. I really enjoyed reading your posts this past week. I am from Israel, and according to the Jewish Kabalah faith there is the concept of "correction" ("Tikun" in Hebrew). It means that in our lives, our purpose is to fix or correct something which has been broken in the past or previous life. I was really excited looking at the photo from the Taj Mahal today - William and Kate have been definitely priviliged to have a "correction" experience. Wishing us all the very best, Shira from Israel

Kate's dress is lovely and appropriate. The large round design on her chest made me shiver because it looks like a target. But it also puts a flower that looks like the emblem on the flag of India right over her heart. Very nice as she says farewell. Kate and William boh wore the colors of Diana's engagement ring, and I thought that was their way of visually honoring her visit. They sat on the bench to emphasize their love, and toured the building. Then Catherine signed her name wih an uncharacteristic elongated 't' crossing, as if to say, "Now I'm flying home."

This dress works! Perfect fit and detailing, and more importantly, Kate looks comfortable in it and at ease. Similar vibe to the blue and white poppy dress of the Australian tour. William and Kate at the Taj Mahal is so evocative. I can only imagine how bittersweet it has been for William. To be in a place that was so publicly painful for his Mom, but now have to experience it in the full glare of the world press must be nerve wracking, but luckily for him, unlike Diana, he had Kate's loving support to help create new memories. Some have suggested that William should have held on to Kate's hand or placed his hand on her knees. I think not. There's no need to make that obvious play to the cameras to show their love. They have been doing just that throughout this tour in a very spontaneous way, so there was no need for a contrived performance to placate the media or the public. On a separate note, as this tour comes to an end, Charlotte, a million thanks for your timely and on point postings. Yours have been my go-to place for all updates of this tour. I hope this was a labor of love on your part for the end product did appear to be just that. I hope you take the rest of the weekend to just relax and put your feet up. Thank you for a job well done!

She saved the best for last!! Oh my, I wouldn't change a thing about this ensemble, head to toe. The earrings she picked up in Bhutan were such a serendipitous find! What a lovely reminder of the serenity of Bhutan & its people every time she wears them.

This sheath is my favorite of the whole tour! Second fave being the Temperley gown she wore to the garden party honoring the Queen. I guess I'm drawn to intricate embroidery!

I got emotional seeing the stark contrast between lonely Diana in front of the Taj Mahal vs. William & Catherine....but it also confirmed to me their love & happiness (not that I ever doubted it)....they're carving their own path & most importantly TOGETHER.

I'm sure you're tired of hearing this, Charlotte, but THANK YOU for your impeccable coverage of this tour!! I'm exhausted, can't imagine how you must feel ;-)

I always thought Diana might have chosen a different dress that she planned to wear to the Taj and then when Charles refused to go, she just threw something on that came from a different tour. The rest of her clothes on that India trip had worked so well.

So I'm delighted to see Kate wear something chosen with the complete confidence that she is loved and that William will be there at her side without question and that neither of them have to live a lie.

A beautiful and poignant end to a triumphant tour. They look so loving and in sharp contrast to Diana's photo. Just a very emotional moment. William and Kate both looked beautiful today. How they, the press and spectators stood the searing heat I will never know. I am sad that the lovely week is over. It has been such fun sharing all this with our group. Charlotte you are one amazing lad you. Thank you.

Rebecca,"And his shoes matches her hair" wow! that is head to toe soul mates coordinated and as one? what do we know? I have heard, if a marriage is right, "the man and the woman came from the same water /river". There might be some analogy there. How about "made for each other?; "a marriage made in heaven"; and now, "his shoes matches her hair". One sleepless fan is happy.

Since Kate became the Duchess of Cambridge I have followed your blog almost addictively so after yet another well covered tours, i wanted to say thank you.Plus, Love the outfits she's worn this tour will definitely have to Repli-Kate.

Thank you very much Charlotte for the amazing coverage of the tour. It is a privilege to follow William and Catherine with you. You are always so fast and you share so much information in a very entertaining manner. Thank you so much. You are the best!

Ahhhh...now this is a dress that manages to give a nod to India while still being very "Kate," unlike many of the ones she's worn. This may be my favorite from this week! I enjoyed seeing the variety of styles she wore on this tour but many of them were quite a departure from her usual style, and, while fun, weren't quite "her," if you know what I mean. I am not sure if she will repeat most of them back home in England. And, I can't comment on today's visit to the Taj Mahal without mentioning William – I'm so glad he coordinated with Catherine and his pants seem to be a more trim, contemporary style. Looks like a lovely visit all in all! But they must be so tired and it will be so nice for them to be reunited with the children later today.

I also want to chime in with other readers and thank Charlotte for her spectacular coverage of the tour throughout the week! You've provided so much enjoyment over the course of the tour! And, as always, I really appreciated the background information on the charities, buildings, etc. Wishing you a very relaxing weekend, Charlotte!

I see many commenting that they are not "her", and I have such a hard time seeing it. It might be because I'm very familiar with the pre-marriage look and off duty looks. To me, it looks very much like "her", just doesn't look much like her usual "princessing uniform" if that makes sense :P

I couldn't wait to get this morning and see photos of today's events. I was not disappointed. Absolutely LOVE this dress. What an amazing choice. It looks fabulous in the photos and Catherine looks stunning. And look at the difference in the photos when William's suit co-ordinates with what she is wearing. If he had worn a black or dark grey suit with the Temperley black and white dress or the Tory Burch gown the photos would have been incredible. Thank you for all the amazing coverage this week.

"The impact of the Duchess choosing his design has not been lost on Khan, telling the Telegraph, “This is my happiest morning. My son got married last night and The Duchess of Cambridge wears Naeem Khan in India. I am in Heaven.” He said he had provided Kate’s team with three possibilities when they contacted him several months ago but wasn’t told for sure The Duchess would wear his designs. “I presently do not have a commercial presence in India. The Duchess wearing Naeem Khan indeed brings awareness not only in India but worldwide. This does impacts the brand tremendously.”

I teared up a little seeing William in the same spot as his mother on the bench.

WHAT.A.SPECTACULAR.WEEK!!!!

I bet HRHs are ready to see their sweet babies and vice versa!

Charlotte, TOP NOTCH job! I was teaching at school and couldn't wait for recess and lunch to see how the tour was going! Such a treat.

Of everything most memorable for me, I must say that seeing the picture with the Queen and Kate smiling, made me think that they had a delightful time with the royals. I also think the gift of the necklace was very, very special and it will be interesting to see if Kate wears it again. It would be such a nod to solidarity even though not in the country.

She did such an amazing job stepping outside her fashion comfort zone this week, but this dress might be my favorite. It's classic, beautiful and one I wish I could afford to buy! Thank you Charlotte for all your coverage and updates this week. I've really enjoyed reading them!

I wondered if it would be fun to add a piece to the "Tour Poll" that gives commenters a chance to say which pieces they, themselves, will be purchasing (or repli-Kates) from the tour and if they already have, what they think of the item and how it looks on them? Just a thougt.

If 41 degrees C is 105.8 degrees F, that bench burned them through their clothing! It is almost too hot to breathe at that temperature. I grew up in an area where such temps occasionally occurred, and I'm very glad I don't now. It must have been a shock to come from cooler Bhutan to such an oven and have to walk around in open areas surrounded by masonry and paving.

A perfect day for William and Kate. They both looked wonderful in Agra. You could tell they loved their time at the Taj Mahal.

I may be the only one in the world that wishes that they had not sat on the bench for a photo op. I think William's comment to the photographer indicated that he might have wished they hadn't done it too. The picture is a great one of them as always. It just felt wrong to me. They are a wonderful couple. There are several photos from the Taj visit that could have been an iconic new memory of a Royal visit.

This tour has been fabulous. Thank you Charlotte for bringing it to us! Rest well now. You deserve it.

Prince George and Princess Charlotte are soon to get more hugs than they ever thought possible.

What a way to end the tour! So happy to see the duchess in Naeem khan along with the blue earrings she purchased in during her hike! If only that shopkeeper knew how many duchess' fans want to purchase them! Gorgeous ensemble!!! Loved both the duke and the duchess' outfits!

Btw the earrings the duchess bought has lapis stones hence a darker shade of blue. The ones Emily took a pic of is turquoise but they are the same styles just different stones!

The duchess definitely saved the BEST dress for the last.

I officially want to state the BLUE is the duchess' AND the duke's favorite colors! 😊

And a BIG applause to dear Charlotte for her tireless research and information along with the pics! May you get to meet the duchess some day!

First of all, my apologies and congratulations to Julie of N.C. I was particularly tired and dim thinking I had seen that dress before but not remembering where, and skimming over Charlotte's description of it. How perfect to see Kate wearing something one of our little group chose and how thrilling for this blog. Julie should get a prize! I confess I didn't love the dress at first sight when Kate wore it but it has grown on me enormously - the same with the Tory Burch. I had to get used to those colours but they do work for the events.

As for everything else, absolutely love it. I loved the white dress repeat for the farewell in Bhutan, love the necklace, what a truly special gift from one royal lady to another! What a generous spirit the Bhutanese royals have - their gifts to the press also show that!

And love everything about the Taj dress - I truly think blue is the colour to wear there- it picks up the serenity of the site. (And maybe because I grew up seeing Jackie Kennedy standing in front of the Taj in blue-green, that image cemented in my mind)

And Kate's dress could not be more perfect, a designer of Indian heritage and picking up the wonderful details of of the architecture, it was truly the ideal dress to wear there - and the earrings are a delightful, special bonus - the sort of little human touch I love so much.

I remember so clearly expecting to see Diana and Charles at the Taj and being so stunned when she came there alone, it was the first horrible feeling in my tummy that something truly was very wrong in the marriage - there had been hints earlier but somehow, after what Charles had said, that spoke of something so deep and troublesome. It's hard to explain to those not alive in the eighties how much many of us loved the fairy tale of that romance, it seems horribly naive now - but their marriage had come at a bad time for the nation and the world, and it filled us with so much hope, that would end so badly - tragedy piled on tragedy - the shock of the separation, the messiness of revelation piled on revelation, the grotesqueness of the whole Camilla business and what it said about Charles, the nastiness from his camp, the inappropriate men, the nightmare of those public viewings of a tearful and distraught Diana and finally the unbearable horror of her death. It was a miserable royal decade.

So seeing William and Kate there together left me in floods of tears - there is such an ease to their visit, and coupled with the wonderful romantic photos of them on the hike and at the park, and the joyfulness of them in Bhutan with that other so lovely and romantic couple, it is just so moving all the way around.

Btw lovely readers and Charlotte especially: let's inundate Mr. Naeem Khan to release this beautiful dress in cheaper versions using cheaper materials and in different colors. I already did via his Instagram account. Charlotte can you please help on this regard? I think he will sell a lot if this was in the $300-500 range.

What say you fellow readers? I think that would awesome if he listened to us fans.

Dear Charlotte, you are an extremely talented and generous with your time blogger/reporter! Those words are actually inadequate in expressing the obvious passion you have for what you are doing here on your site! Rather than making a zillion posts here, I am taking today...The Last Day of The Tour to say THANK-YOU! In all honesty, I found EVERYTHING Duchess Kate wore amazingly beautiful and appropriate! She has an uncanny knack for becoming a part of her incredibly diverse surroundings and she carries it all off seemingly effortlessly and looks stunning as well! The Duke William has actually been more diverse in his wardrobe I've noticed, therefore they compliment each other magnificently! My experience with your reporting is I really got the sense of their visit/tour and the photo's were chosen with great care and not like some I came upon which chose to focus on her feet(For GAWDS sake! REALLY?!)or her one near mishap with a dress blowing around which I think she handled VERY WELL! I can not even imagine what I would have done! I am going to say something and hope it will be understood as to how I mean it towards Duchess Catherine, complimentary! She has an almost chameleon like ability to step into an environment by way of her carefully chosen wardrobe and manages to look regal, relaxed, down to earth and approachable! The grace of God is with and upon her and Wills! I am sure!!!Again blessings and thanks for GREAT reporting and an eye view, front row seat to such a meaningful tour by The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge!May you get some much needed rest and enjoy your life and family!Deborah in Denver, CO.

I'm glad they decided to have a photo taken at the Taj Mahal. My favorite photo of the tour is the one where they are facing each other. It seems intimate and personal despite the setting. There is true love in their body language.

Moving day all around. . .I, too, feel a type of emotional relief that hey hit the note just right. They had a type of recapitulation/reversal. And they played this tension with grace: 1)He sat squarely in that spot (with his best friend) that his late mother sat--oh so brave, given his reluctance to provide emotional fodder and 2) He (they) didn't try to rub in the fact (especially given that his father is still living) that he was there with his wife. No public display of affection (I really believe yesterday's PDA was a backdrop to today's thought-full harmony). It wasn't contrived. I also wonder what is going on in Charles (and Camilla's ) head today. . .If only we all were able to hit those notes with such a blend of grace and courage with the haunts of our lives. . .I truly admire how well this was executed. Well done, William. Regarding Kate's outfit: I"m also tremendously glad Kate wore a sheath dress. No possible fly away skirts. The pattern immediately, in my mind, played with symmetry of the Taj. A beautifully appropriate dress. So classic. And so Kate.Final note: notice the group shot of the journalists/and other persons in that heat! Notice how they are dressed. Having been to India, I remember many men wearing long sleeved shirts. If that same group of people were in North America in the heat, we would see very different attire! Hope everyone stayed managed to stay cool.

i thought i was going to break down in tears i was so touched as i remmber seeing her sit on that bench on the news when diania told the press to figure out for them selfs.and to see william and kate sit there it just touched my heart so much. i want to thank you so much charlotte the hard work you put into this tour was amazing and you touched on every deatial so get some muched needed rest and thank you again. have a wonderful weekend. forgot to say how much i loved her dress one of my favorits!!!

Thank you so much Charlotte for your coverage of the tour. It was fantastic. I think what I like most apart from the speed is that it is so factual, well referenced and without bias as one would expect good journalism to be but sadly for the most part is not, being more opinion and agenda than fact. Thank you also to the commentors. Interesting to read views from all over the world.I loved the Khan dress very appropriate for the photograph the world had to have and I am glad Arthur got the symmetry right! Did he take the Diana photo too does anyone know? Dare I say it but I much prefer the the photos of them walking on the long walk to the bench one for me much more symbolic of them walking through life together whereas the Diana photo for me has always been a symbol of the end in many ways.

Thank you so much for an amazing coverage of this tour. You did a wonderful job and I thoroughly enjoyed tuning in multiple times a day to catch up on what was happening.

I think Kate left the best for last. I loved this look. Elegant and well put together. Now that we have been saturated with Kate for 7 days, I hope she doesn't leave it too long before we see her out and about again.

I also meant to say how annoying must the constant camera clicks be. One could hardly hear what they were saying for the noise of the cameras. I can relate to them wanting to hike in peace and quiet for some of the way.

thank you soo much Charlotte for a wonderful coverage. it was all awesome...kate looks beautiful today at taj mahal.... i became too much excited that i couldn't send my comment... just remembering a song while seeing these imagesSuno na sangemarmar ki ye minareinKuchh bhi nahi hain aage tumhaareAaj se dil pe mere raaj tumhaara.. Taj tumhaara..

Listen to me (as in believe me), these minarates of white marble are nothing compared to you[as in, their beauty is nothing in comparison to your beauty]From today, on my heart there will be your rule.(From today) the Taj is yours..

[Taj literally means a crown. So this may also be taken that she has the crown, and hence she's the queen, of his heart.]Beautiful monument: Beautiful young royals. Beautiful smiles. What could be better?( a mag's lines)faiza, Pakistan

I can't help wondering how Charles felt about today's coverage. We probably will never know but if it had been me, I would have been very sad, wondering what I could have done differently. But glad that my son was happy. I thought it interesting that even though everyone else had been saying that they were going to recreate the photo, W & K didn't decide that they would actually sit on that bench until this morning.

Oh, I'm such a silly billy! Am sitting here crying at all the lovely comments, Charlotte's beautiful last tour post and the sadness that each evening (here in Oz) I won't be trawling through twitter and blogs to see details and photos of this amazing tour.

Thank you Charlotte for bring some much needed diversion into my life. I really enjoy following TRH and find their lives fascinating (although I couldn't tell you why?!?!?). Your blog is wonderful and so are you.

I am so, so thankful that they decided to sit on that bench. Can you imagine the reactions if they had not made that decision. A good decision from those two was needed and they finally made one. It just seems so right.

I loved a few outfits, liked a few outfits, hated a few outfits. But even the ones I hated were wonderful because she looked youthful, confident, and happy. My hope is she remembers how fun clothes can be, and she puts the dreadful coat dresses in the back of her closet for at least the next decade.

Awesome visit to the Taj Mahal. Given the Diana photo it was one of those occasions where there's a fine line between tacky & brilliant but they achieved the latter. having a mix of photos standing & sitting diffused the comparisons but still gave the royal reporters & photographers what they wanted.

Agree with everyone that this dress looks amazing on the Duchess.

I don't know how many posters here have experienced 41C heat but it's intolerable after seconds even if you're used to hot summer heat & are wearing a hat & outdoors clothes designed for heat protection. Kudos to their professionalism in going out in that heat & doing everything they could to provide good photos, especially William who's wearing a jacket!

It's also cool that they tried to put the focus on the building & not themselves.

Thanks Charlotte for all your hard work & great coverage. Hope you have something fun planned to unwind.

What a beautiful dress!! Colour, print, shape... perfect!It´s so nice to see the two of them sitting together on "that" bench. Charlotte, I have been GLUED to my computer screen during this incredible week - thanks to your wonderful blog!! It´s been an incredible tour, I will take my time and reread all the posts - can´t wait for the polls!!:-))))Thank you so much for your incredible work!!!!

Charlotte,I stayed exclusively on this blog for news of this tour. It was moving so fast, the way you kept up with your standard inserts of researched commentary, archived photos, and up keep of everything was amazing. Considering the time difference, you probably have your own kind of “jet lag”. Your cute Mumbai clock had bid farewell, and hopefully you will readjust your sleep pattern. There was some history to learn, or refresh. Please thank your husband for the beautiful banner which helped become a source for more search and interest. It seems that too will be off duty soon. Appreciate both of you.

hmm I love the taj mahal shot the iconic pose will recreated new memories no one can replace the iconic shot by princess Diana but I love the get to see the bench I think very difficult for the duke to decide to sit on the bench good to know they decided to sit many tales these symbol of love and I think taj mahal is very healing place for the past decades for them and royal family because thee pain cause it now William and Catherine is the symbl of love and serendipity back then sorrowed surroundings with then maybe their decide to go their on their last stop sends good vibes to all royal watchers and media covering the tour be one day hurt will also changes into memories that what im thinking they duke and duchess on their way home straight buckleberry their children

HiIt is the first time I am commenting whereas I have been following your blog for quite some time now.I wanted to thank you for the coverage of this tour, all the détails, the very nice pictures and so forth...I loved this tour in India and Bhutan. The events were well chosen. The dresses always appropriate. And it was always a nice surprise and different from the usual clothes we see on the Duchess. Thanks Charlotte for the great work and follow up. You are doing a fantastic job. I can't wait for the polls I am sure you will do. That will leave us a few days to decide our favorites outfits... But it will be hard... ;))All the bestEmma

First, excuse me if I repeat some of the sentiments of the previous commenters (I can't read all 185 comments!), and I'm sure many of you feel the same.Second, a huge thanks to Charlotte for doing such an amazing job with covering the tour. I have spent hours everyday on your blog, it was a guilty pleasure. While I seriously loved almost all of her outfit choices for this tour (except for the two mediocre EW pieces) the Taj Mahal dress was the best of all. IMHO, the Duchess should be very pleased with how successful the tour was. It was a good balance between worthy causes and diplomacy. Her sartorial choices were fantastic, I loved seeing her play with color, prints, silhouettes, new designers, bold earrings, different shoes, everything!!!It was evident that she was feeling pretty and happy, confident in her role. To me, it feels almost like she was freed from something that's holding her back. India got to her and in a good way, I do hope she will take some of it home with her and keep on showing the world her more confident, creative, playful, feminine taste in clothes. And finally, as I suffer withdrawals with the rest of you, I'm looking forward to going back to my usual capacity, without checking the blog for updates every 15 minutes or so... D.

First, excuse me if I repeat some of the sentiments of the previous commenters (I can't read all 185 comments!), and I'm sure many of you feel the same.Second, a huge thanks to Charlotte for doing such an amazing job with covering the tour. I have spent hours everyday on your blog, it was a guilty pleasure. While I seriously loved almost all of her outfit choices for this tour (except for the two mediocre EW pieces) the Taj Mahal dress was the best of all. IMHO, the Duchess should be very pleased with how successful the tour was. It was a good balance between worthy causes and diplomacy. Her sartorial choices were fantastic, I loved seeing her play with color, prints, silhouettes, new designers, bold earrings, different shoes, everything!!!It was evident that she was feeling pretty and happy, confident in her role. To me, it feels almost like she was freed from something that's holding her back. India got to her and in a good way, I do hope she will take some of it home with her and keep on showing the world her more confident, creative, playful, feminine taste in clothes. And finally, as I suffer withdrawals with the rest of you, I'm looking forward to going back to my usual capacity, without checking the blog for updates every 15 minutes or so... D.

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